Justin Bieber skips Toronto court appearance

Bieber’s lawyer says the pop idol did nothing wrong.

Pope superstar Justin Bieber is swarmed by media and police officers as he turns himself into police in Toronto on Jan. 29. Bieber wasn't going to be in court Monday for the first hearing of his assault charges.

Fans showed up at a Toronto court proceeding for an assault charge Justin Bieber faces – even though the pop star wasn't planning to be there.

Justin Bieber’s first court date in Toronto took all of a minute on Monday. But it was long enough for the pop superstar’s absence to break the hearts of young fans hoping that he might just show up after all.

Toronto police charged the Stratford, Ont., native and California resident, who turned 20 on March 1, with assault back in January, in connection with limo driver Abdul Mohar’s report that he’d been struck in the head. The small courtroom at Old City Hall was packed Monday with media and “Beliebers” — despite repeated reminders by court staff that Bieber wouldn’t attend.

Police have said a limo picked up a group of six outside a downtown nightclub at about 3 a.m. Dec. 30. On the way to a hotel, an altercation ensued. The driver stopped and called police after he was hit.

“The man who struck him left the scene before police arrived,” police said at the time.

On Monday, lawyer Brian Greenspan appeared on Bieber’s behalf to receive two disks from the Crown, one containing surveillance video, the other a victim statement.

After the appearance, Greenspan described the summary assault charge as being equivalent to a “misdemeanour.”

He would not say how his client would plead should the case proceed to trial. However, Greenspan said there was proof that Bieber did nothing wrong that night.

“What is clear is that we have independent witnesses who indicate he was not engaged in any wrongdoing,” he told reporters.

The last time so many spectators showed up to a routine appearance was when supermodel Naomi Campbell was charged, said Greenspan.

One of the Bieber fans asked the lawyer to deliver a message to her idol.

“Tell Justin I love him,” yelled Kristyn Nguyen, 13, who later teared up and was left quivering and speechless at the thought that Bieber might actually receive her message.